Хоббит

           "Thethrushesaregoodandfriendly-thisisaveryoldbirdindeed,andismaybethelastleftoftheancientbreedthatusedtoliveabouthere,tametothehandsofmyfatherandgrandfather.Theywerealong-livedandmagicalrace,andthismightevenbeoneofthosethatwerealivethen,acoupleofhundredsyearsormoreago.TheMenofDaleusedtohavethetrickofunderstandingtheirlanguage,andusedthemformessengerstoflytotheMenoftheLakeandelsewhere.""Well,he’llhavenewstotaketoLake-townallright,ifthatiswhatheisafter,"saidBilbo;"thoughIdon’tsupposethereareanypeoplelefttherethattroublewiththrush-language."

           "Whywhathashappened?"criedthedwarves."Dogetonwithyourtale!"

           SoBilbotoldthemallhecouldremember,andheconfessedthathehadanastyfeelingthatthedragonguessedtoomuchfromhisriddlesaddedtothecampsandtheponies."IamsureheknowswecamefromLake-townandhadhelpfromthere;andIhaveahorriblefeelingthathisnextmovemaybeinthatdirection.IwishtogoodnessIhadneversaidthataboutBarrel-rider;itwouldmakeevenablindrabbitinthesepartsthinkoftheLake-men.""Well,well!Itcannotbehelped,anditisdifficultnottoslipintalkingtoadragon,orsoIhavealwaysheard,"saidBalinanxioustocomforthim."Ithinkyoudidverywell,ifyouaskme-youfoundoutoneveryusefulthingatanyrate,andgothomealive,andthatismorethanmostcansaywhohavehadwordswiththelikesofSmaug.